diff --git a/COPYING b/COPYING
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2f8391c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/COPYING
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISC_license
+
+Copyright (c) 2012, David Baird <dhbaird@gmail.com>
+
+Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for any
+purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
+copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
+
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH
+REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
+FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT,
+INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM
+LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR
+OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR
+PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 88b2b93..3a21001 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ compilation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_Compilation_Unit)).
 Also, this library does not work in cooperation with any asynchronous
 event processing scheduler. The good news is that the code here is
 straightforward and can serve as a reference to build something tailored
-for your needs.
+for your needs, in the spirt of copy-and-paste (and you are very welcome
+to do so).
 
 Happy hacking! Drop me a line if you do anything cool with this :)
 ...complaints welcome too.